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Thursday, October 31, 2013

A Lovely Year of Finishes Goal Met! + A Massive Amount of UFO's finished!

This month my goal in the Lovely Year of Finishes was this UFO top of my moms. It was just blocks, made in the wrong size and didn't work the way the pattern said. My goal was to make the top. I quickly made the top in a night or two, then another night to make the back and I was on a role. I put it with batting and one of the middle weekends this month I quilted it along with 5 other quilt tops. I finished the binding and now have a finished quilt for when someone needs it. It does not have a home yet, but instead of just getting the top done as was my original goal, I finished the entire quilt.

The Maze Sample top was made and turned in.
The high chair sample was made and it works great.
I made 3 bags, 1 for a giveaway and 2 for me. I love the smaller size and have started using them for my binding bag and hexie bag.

I pulled out this pink/brown table topper and made it in one night, checked off my UFO list for the month.
I also pulled out the scraps left from the Zoo Parade an made this baby quilt. It is also finished!
I picked up the Confetti baby quilt top and got it quilted and the binding applied. I lost the fabric I thought I had to make the binding, but had enough of the backing to make binding.

I also picked up the Twirl quilt and got it quilted and the binding on. It feels great to have it done as it has been a UFO for way too long!
I took the opportunity to finish my last Swoon block at Club Sew
I pulled out and pieced this 9 patch/snowball quilt top from 2009. It was quilted and the binding is on.
I finished the Star Surround top and was able to get it quilted and the binding on.
I took this road grader panel and turned it into a little boys play mat.
I made this quilt in 1 evening for my nephew's 1st birthday.
I pulled out mom's 60* table topper and turned it into 2 reversible table toppers. A pastel one:
A 60* table runner, using up the last of the grader fabric.
I made a reversible placement, another one of mom's ufo's.
A treat bag kit made
The other reversible table topper
An EZ wallet kit
I made 3 UFO flannel baby blankets.
I took the tumblers and pieced them into a top and then quilted and bound it this week. This was my major finish for the week.
I also finished the adorning schlep UFO bag. It took me a couple hours, but has been cut out for a couple years.
I also pieced this mini merry go round quilt top. I have the batting and backing ready to quilt it, but too much going on this week to get it done. I would like to work on quilting feathers, so may use this for practice.

I also made the Rubic Star into a top. I am working on the next border, but have not spent much time on it. I've been too busy doing hand sewn binding. I also quilted some on the Wolf quilt, but need to do more on the Bernina, so I am waiting until I have time to play.
The blocks I made for a friendship quilt for one of our teachers.

This massive blizzard the first weekend made me stop and realize how no power really affects a family. I feel so blessed to have survived and be able to move forward. I feel very fortunate we did not lose anything, including all the milk I have frozen for the last year. It was stored at my dad's and they lost everything in their freezer. I had picked up the milk 2 weeks before the storm. If you've nursed/pumped you know how vital the milk is. As I am transitioning Mathew and quitting nursing, I am so thankful the 30+ bags of milk were saved. The Ranchers Relief Fund is still accepting donations for all those who lost their livelihoods. My dad and his wife lost 36 horses and have 11 left. They think there may be one more missing, but can't find it. This storm was outrageous. I spent the 3 days with my kids and husband, playing and sleeping and relaxing. I could have hand sewn, but I didn't. We used the camping supplies to cook and warm the house when needed. Luckily it was in October, so it wasn't as cold as it would have been in January.
This was an amazing month for me! I had 18 UFO finishes, 26 total finishes, 4 new projects, a few blocks for a friendship quilt, and lots of relief in seeing the UFO's checked off the list.
Next month I plan to work on Christmas presents and a UFO or two. I don't think I'll have as much time for sewing since Paul will be deer hunting, but I'll try my best.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

After such an amazing weekend, I probably should have done something besides quilt last night, but Paul heated up leftovers and I didn't have to cook. It was icy outside, so no going out and he watched the FB game. The kids played with me while I quilted. Mikaela has become such a little helper, pinning on the backing and taking out the pins when I am done.
I quilted up the Essence Tumbler quilt. I just do not care for this one, so I knew if I didn't get it done right away it would go back in the pile.

I even went so far as to put the binding on completely by machine last night after the kids went to bed. I just didn't want to deal with it any longer! It's looking for a good home now and I am so glad to be done with it! Chalk that up to finish #24 for the month!
I went into the crawl space where I had some fabric stashed from when I moved out of my sewing room last year. I also have some of mom's older UFO's in there. I decided it was time to pull one out and I chose the Christmas Coin quilt. This is the top that is done and it looks like she was making another one as the back. I'm not quite sure, but it is all pieced and the borders/sashing pinned on. I think I'm going to make it into one quilt and call it done. It might have been one where mom and grandma were each making one, but none the less I'm going to finish it and call it done.
Here's a close up of the fabrics. I know it is an older UFO since mom made it before working at the quilt shop, but the fabrics aren't awful either.
Not sure what I'll do tonight. It's yucky out again and we have leftovers, so no cooking for me. I'm thinking a small, quick finish to make it to 25 might be in order.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Some friends have commented that I have gotten a lot done this month, which is very true. I've had an amazing month and there is still a few days left. Prepare yourself... if you thought this month was amazing, look out for what got finished this weekend.
Friday night I made this toddler quilt for my nephew Cooper's 1st birthday party, which I thought was Sunday. I pieced the top and put it on the frame Friday night, added the binding to the top later that night. Saturday morning I was getting the kids ready when I looked at the invitation and the party was on Saturday afternoon... I hit high gear and machine sewed the binding on the quilt before we headed to Sturgis for the party. I did get a quick stop in at Fabric Junction in Sturgis and a few fat quarters made it home with me.
I quilted his name in it. It's not the best, but for a first time I think it turned out pretty cool. I did really big loops because I wanted it to be a light quilt.
We got home around supper time on Sat. night and I made a full meal, meatloaf, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and corn. While the kids played with daddy and grandma, I finished making this pastel table topper. It is reversible and burped since I didn't have a binding to match.
This is the other side of it.
I used the very last of the grader fabric and made a table topper. It is also burped and quilted.
I put two placemats together and burped and quilted. No backing fabric or binding, but it's done and will be useful to someone. This was another of mom's UFO's that is now done!
I pulled out a couple kits I had bought at Quilts and Vines and made this little Treats bag. The front is see through. The pattern is easy and I can see making more, without the vinyl. I'm not sure why I waited 2 years to make something that took 20 -30 min.
I also quilted this little Laurel Burch table topper. It is also reversible and another of mom's UFO's. So glad to have it done and the excess fabric in the scrap bin.
Then I made a little wallet from another Heirloom Creations kit. It too less than 20 min, yet I've had the pattern/kit since 2009.
The inside. I can see making more of these since they are so simple. I think it would make a great giftcard holder too.
All of the above were finished on Saturday - 7 finishes!!
Sunday I made myself work on the Essence Tumbler quilt. It has been cut out since 2010 or so and I've had all the fabric, including the border, binding, and backing. I finally made it into a top on Sunday. I had wanted to quilt it, but I didn't finish until after the kids went to bed, so I made the backing and picked out the thread and hope to quilt it this week some time.
So I spent the later part of Sunday night making baby receiving blankets. I had bought up the leftover flannel from this line and I think I had 3 yards of each, so I made 3 little girl blankets. I burped and then stitched around the edges. I think they turned out cute and will make great gifts for when I need something quick. Three more finishes yesterday put me at 10 for the weekend! That puts me at 23 finishes for October. I'm shooting for 25, so we'll see how this week goes.

Since I thought the party was on Sunday I hadn't planned to have so much sewing time, but I had gotten my homework done early in the week so I wouldn't have to worry about it. It was so nice to be able to spend the day sewing and not have to worry about homework. Since I had cooked on Saturday, Paul cooked Chili Sunday. After a quick trip to the store for a few essentials (cornbread to go with the chili), we were home again and tried on Halloween costumes. I had planned to take them to mass and trunk or treat, but they fell asleep before we made it there. Some of my best laid plans just do not work out.
This weekend was my 2nd goal in my weight loss journey that started on August 2. I hoped to lose 10 lbs by the end of the year. I lost 10lbs in the first 5 weeks, so I set another goal to lose 10 more by my nephew's birthday. I didn't quite make it, but did lose 6 more, so I feel good about where I am at so far. I'd like to lose about 6 more by the end next month, but I'm easing off of nursing, so not sure if it will happen. The encouragement from my co-workers and friends has been amazing and I couldn't ask for better friends. Thanks to everyone who has helped me with this major goal.

Friday, October 25, 2013

This month has been amazing in the quilting department, partly because we've been home every weekend, but mainly because I set some goals and I pulled out my UFO sheet to see what I can accomplish before the end of the year.
I was able to quilt two quilts on Sunday night, Star Surround and 9 Patch Snowball. The Star Surround was a new quilt using up scraps of Frolic, so I feel like I was using up the leftover fabric. The rest of it is going in the scrap container. I love how this turned out for a scrap quilt. I would have been better if the oranges were opposite, but oh well. It will make a nice quilt for someone. I finished up the hand work on the binding on Wednesday.
Wednesday night I taught a class and with some time to hand sew I finished up the 9 Patch Snowball hand work. It's pretty small, but it was made as an I Spy quilt. I'm not sure who this will go to.
Last night when I got home I quickly quilted up this little play mat. It could be a baby quilt, but I'm thinking it will be better as a little play mat for my nephew. Mathew already has one just like it. I finished the binding today at lunch, although I think I am going to go back over it with a machine stitch to secure it since his dad says "Boys are rough and they play with stuff till it falls apart".
Here's a close up of the binding. I used a little blue fabric that has orange cones on it. I am on the last of this fabric. I have made five quilts and a table topper with it and just have enough for 1 or 2 60* table toppers left. They will have to be burped with something different on the back as I am so close to done with this fabric. Another UFO off my list!

While I was looking at my list in mid-October, I started a Nov. goal list... I've finished 3 of the 6 things already! I think I need to look again. I have all of my October goals either accomplished or superseded! I am not working on a couple new quilts and a couple quick finishes for the end of the month. I think Nov. will be spent making quilts for my kids for X-mas. While I "only" finished 3 quilts this week compared to the four last week, I was able to also make a burped table topper, which only needs a wee bit of quilting. I also cut out and pinned 3 baby receiving blankets which will be quick finishes, pinned another 60* table topper that needs a piece of batting, and cut out 2 toddler quilts, 1 for my nephew's 1st birthday and 1 for my son for X-mas. I need to make/quilt/bind my nephew's before Sunday, so I'm on a time crunch, but I think I can do it.

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About Me

I live in South Dakota with my husband Paul and 6-year-old daughter Mikaela and our son Mathew Paul, 4 years old. I love to quilt, sew clothes, and share my love of quilting with others. I've been quilting for 20 years, sewing for 30 years, starting in 4-H at age 7. I enjoy participating in Club Sew and having sewing parties with my great friends, Jenn, Emilee, Gaila, Tammy, Nicole H., & Nicole B.. Paul and I enjoy spending time watching Nascar, fishing, hunting, playing with Mikaela & Mathew, camping in our 5th wheel, and being in the country.